James Alfred and his brother, John William 'Jack', enlisted in Co B 43rd regiment, Ga infantry, Army of Tenn in early 1862. The unit was moved to Mississippi to take part in the defense of Vicksburg. Jack was captured on 5-16-1863 at the battle of Champions Hill. He was taken to Camp Morton, Indiana, then to Ft. Delaware, Delaware. He was exchanged on 7-4-1863. That same day, James Alfred, fighting at Vicksburg as it fell to Grant, was captured and paroled. Both brothers rejoined their unit in Alabama and moved with Polk to Chickamauga. The unit became engaged in the Atlanta campaign. John was wounded near Atlanta on 8-9-1864,